Marinerong Pilipino came through with a fiery start before foiling the comeback of BRT Sumisip Basilan-St. Clare for a 69-59 win Thursday to move on the verge of capturing the PBA D-League Foundation Cup crown at the Ynares Sports Arena in Pasig City.
Rev Diputado hit two threes and Jhonard Clarito scored four while the rest of the Skippers forced the Saints to miss seven of their first eight shots and commit four turnovers to lead 12-2 in the first five minutes.
The Skippers got almost everyone involved to take a 43-24 halftime lead, then relied on their defense as the Saints trimmed the gap to only seven with less than two minutes remaining in the fourth.
“Yun ang naging problema namin before at lumabas ulit. Hopefully ma-correct namin sa Game 2,” said Marinerong Pilipino coach Yong Garcia.
Garcia and the rest of the Skippers go for the kill Wednesday afternoonat the Cuneta Astrodome with a chance at joining the NLEX Road Warriors as the only teams to finish the tournament unbeaten.
The Road Warriors did the trick twice during the 2012 and 2014 Foundation Cup.
Diputado finished with 12 points to lead a balanced scoring attack for the Skippers. Eloy Poligrates and William McAloney scored nine points each, Santi Santillan posted eight points and nine rebounds and Clarito four points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Japs Bautista had 17 points and Mohammad Pare tallied 14 points and 12 rebounds but the lousy start proved to be costly for Sumisip-St. Clare.
Two early fouls forced Pare to sit the bench for most of the first half, leaving the Saints without a threat in the middle.
Pare suited up throughout the fourth as Sumisip-St. Clare tried to make things interesting.
Bautista’s reverse layup cut Marinerong Pilipino’s lead to 61-52 with 5:28 left in the fourth. But Sumisip-St. Clare wasted multiple stops with empty possessions on the other end.
Diputado’s three made it 64-52 but Pare’s putback and three-point play put the Saints within seven 64-57, 1:52 to go in the fourth.
Pare, however, committed a turnover and muffed a pair of jumpers, ending any chances of a last-ditch rally while triggering celebrations from a predominantly group of Marinero supporters. (Jonas Terrado)
The scores:
MARINERONG PILIPINO 69 — Diputado 12, Poligrates 9, McAloney 9, Santillan 8, Alabanza 6, Rios 6, Ayonayon 4, Clarito 4, Mangahas 4, Yee 4, Villarias 3, Sara 0.
SUMISIP-ST. CLARE 59 — Bautista 17, Pare 14, Fontanilla 7, Hallare 7, Gabo 5, Collado 3, Dumapig 3, Batino 2, Manacho 1.
Quarters: 21-8; 43-24; 54-41; 69-59.
